Ethiopia’s Doctors Strike: A Test for Abiy Ahmed’s Economic Reform Agenda

Reporting by iNewsAfrica East Africa Bureau

A nationwide doctors’ strike in Ethiopia has brought critical health services to a standstill, spotlighting rising discontent within the public sector. The protest directly challenges Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s economic reform priorities, which critics say have sidelined essential public welfare systems in favor of macroeconomic restructuring and privatization.

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• Who: Public hospital doctors across Ethiopia

• What: Nationwide strike demanding better pay and working conditions

• Where: Addis Ababa and regional cities including Mekelle, Bahir Dar, and Hawassa

• When: Ongoing since early June 2025

• Why: Protesters claim that government-led reforms ignore deteriorating public health infrastructure and professional standards

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – A sweeping strike by Ethiopia’s public sector doctors has cast a shadow over Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s economic reform drive, as medical professionals accuse the government of neglecting their livelihoods and the collapsing state of the country’s healthcare system.

The strike, which began in early June, has seen doctors walk out of hospitals in major cities including Addis Ababa, Mekelle, and Bahir Dar. Emergency services and intensive care units have been particularly impacted, forcing many public hospitals to scale back operations and redirect patients to already overburdened private clinics.

Dr. Liyat Mengesha, a spokesperson for the Ethiopian Medical Professionals Union, said the government’s budget priorities reflect a “distorted sense of national development.”

“We support reform, but not at the cost of human life,” she stated. “The government invests heavily in infrastructure and defense, but neglects those who save lives every day.”

Mounting Pressure on Reforms

Since taking office in 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has pursued an ambitious economic transformation agenda. With backing from the IMF and World Bank, Ethiopia has moved to liberalize key sectors such as telecom, aviation, and finance. While these reforms have attracted foreign investment and boosted GDP growth projections, critics argue they have widened inequality and diverted funding from critical public services.

The health sector, already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent conflicts in the north, has seen stagnant wages, shortages of medical supplies, and an exodus of skilled workers. Doctors say the government has failed to follow through on promises to raise salaries and improve hospital conditions.

Political and Social Implications

The doctors’ strike signals deeper frustrations within Ethiopia’s educated middle class and could galvanize wider discontent in other public sector professions, including teachers and civil servants. Analysts warn that the crisis could undermine public support for Abiy’s Prosperity Party ahead of the next electoral cycle.

“Economic reforms can’t be sustainable if they erode the very foundation of public trust and well-being,” said Tsedale Lemma, a political analyst based in Addis Ababa.

So far, the government has not issued a formal response, but sources within the Ministry of Health say a task force has been formed to negotiate with union leaders.

As hospitals continue to operate at minimal capacity, the strike is evolving into a broader referendum on Ethiopia’s development model—raising the question of whether prosperity can be achieved without prioritizing public health.